The Fandomentals

First Look at CW’s Riverdale

The CW has provided its first glimpse of Riverdale, its new, grittier take on Archie and the gang. Let’s just say things look…a little strange to anyone familiar with the classic Americana feel of the comics the show came from.

Set in the present day, Riverdale takes place as the gang enters their sophomore year of high school. And deal with a murder mystery involving one of their high school friends. The promo feeds into this darker interpretation of the Archie Andrews comics, with dark sets, bloody hands, women in hoods, and a fight between Archie and another boy. Executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa promised something more complex than the volumes picked up off store shelves, something “a little bit like Archie meets Twin Peaks.”

Though he also promises the inclusion of more typical Archie problems like choosing a girl to take to a dance. However, this trailer makes even those teenage hijinks appear a bit edgier than your usual Archie Andrews. For instance, Aguirre-Sacasa also promises a kiss between Betty and Veronica and a “taboo” slumber party where a bunch of different characters will kiss each other’s faces.

Watch the promo below and let us know what you think of Riverdale in the comments below. Does this new direction interest or repel you? Does it look to fill the Gossip Girl-sized hole in your TV schedule? Are you intrigued enough by the promised Betty and Veronica kiss and the chance they go for each other and leaving Archie behind? Or does this look like a desperately edgy reboot of material best not taken in this direction? We want to hear your thoughts!